Living and working in Sur

Sur is rapidly developing location, not far from the capital but still a piece of old Arabia at its best. Sur is one the oldest of the Omani cities and has played a prominent role in building maritime trade across the Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, forming business and cultural links between the Arabian Peninsula, India, East Africa and South-East Asia. Sur is the last location in Arabia where the traditional dhows are still built; they can be seen at use at sea daily.

Sur lies on the coast of the Gulf of Oman, boasting some of the best private beaches and unspoiled scuba diving to be found in the world, and is not far from extensive areas of mountains and desert which offer considerable opportunities for outdoor pursuits. There are several ancient monuments including Bilad Sur Castle, As Sinaysilah Castle, Al ‘Ayjah Castle, Finar Ras Al Meel and Ras Al Hadd Castle. Sur also lies close to several spectacular and popular valleys, the most prominent of which are Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi, and the protected beaches at Ras Al Jinz where several species of turtle lay their eggs all year round.

In addition to the history of the area, there are rapidly developing modern amenities with new shopping facilities and malls, so your day-to-day needs are very easily met, with an excellent range of goods on sale. Sur is also famous for its food, and there are many excellent restaurants where local dishes and fresh seafood are served, together with a few more international locations for a taste of something more cosmopolitan. Other facilities include the OmanSail club with which the School has a strong connection, and the HAS Compound club which are staff may choose to join and enjoy the swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurants and bar, all of which is subsidised by OLNG.

By road, Sur is connected to Muscat, Nizwa and Salalah with Dubai and Abu Dhabi not too far over the UAE border, whilst East Africa, South Asia and the Mediterranean are a short flight away. Living and working in Oman offers a wide range of unique cultural experiences not easily found in other parts of the Middle East. Flexibility, cultural dexterity and a sense of adventure are a must, but the rewards are great.

Please explore below links to further familiarize you with the beauty of Oman.

Fast facts about Oman :

Arabic is the main language in Oman but English is widely spoken. The official religion of Oman is Islam but other religions practice freely around Muscat.

Oman is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest

The working week in Oman is Sunday to Thursday, with the weekend on Friday and Saturday.

Oman has some of the most stunning and secluded beaches that the Arabian Peninsula has to offer.

Visitors to Oman are expected to dress modestly in accordance with the local customs. We advise staff (men and women) to keep their shoulders and knees covered when out in public.

Oman is one of the safest countries in the world.

Driving in Oman is safe with excellent roads. Visitors are able to drive hire cars with a valid international licence. Residents will need to have an Oman driver’s licence which, in most cases, is simple to obtain and will not require a road test

Oman is a very pleasant temperature during the winter months but gets very hot in the Summer, with temperatures reaching as high as 49 degrees c. Rainfall is rare, mostly falling during the winter months.

“Mountain Dew” is the top selling beverage in Oman. Pepsi products are much more comman than Coca-Cola products in Oman.

Hay Al-Sharooq International School is an independent educational LLC, fully owned by Oman Development Foundation (ODF). HASIS was founded in 2002 in a small facility in the OLNG compound to provide an education to the young children of locals and...